News Archive
Vallejo, Calif., to declare bankruptcy
Facing labor contract obligations that overwhelm expected revenues, the Vallejo, Calif., City Council voted May 6 to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The city is facing a $10.1 million deficit and expects to deplete its general fund reserves by June 30....
Pittsburgh surpasses Los Angeles in air pollution index
Pittsburgh has the worst short-term particle pollution in the nation, surpassing Los Angeles in that category of the "State of the Air: 2008" report released Thursday by the New York-based American Lung Association (ALA)....
People want more sophisticated interaction with their governments, report shows
All around the world, residents of major cities want more input in their municipal officials' decision making, according to a report from the London-based Accenture Institute for Public Service Value (AIPSV)....
GITA calls for infrastructure solutions presentations
The Aurora, Colo.-based?? Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is calling for presentations for its 2009 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference, scheduled for April 19-22 at the Tampa, Fla., Convention Center....
USCM to push urban issues in presidential campaign
The Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) has invited President Bush and all three presidential candidates to attend its 76th annual meeting, scheduled for June 20-24 in Miami. ...
This is Public Service Recognition Week
Federal, state and local government employees mark Public Service Recognition Week with festivals, open houses, parades, community clean-up days, and fund-raising events to benefit charity...
WERF requests proposals for decentralized stormwater management research
The Alexandria, Va.-based Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) has issued a request for proposals from parties interested in researching decentralized stormwater management techniques....
NACE launches education and grant program to improve traffic signs
The Washington-based National Association of County Engineers (NACE) has launched an educational campaign and companion grant program to help counties replace traffic signs to meet new Federal Highway Administration retroreflectivity standards. ...
Corps of Engineers and PBS&J work on national levee database
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Miami-based environmental engineering firm PBS&J are compiling a database on the nation's levees as part of a federal mandate....
ICMA podcast discusses use of 311/CRM systems
The Washington-based International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has released a podcast on the use of 311 and citizen relationship management (CRM) systems....
AGA blog to focus on government accountability and transparency
On April 25, the Alexandria, Va.-based Association of Government Accountants (AGA) launched a blog for state, local and federal government financial managers to discuss government transparency and accountability issues....
Report shows U.S. infrastructure needs immediate improvement
The United States risks losing its ability to compete globally if steps are not taken immediately to upgrade the nation's infrastructure, according to a report released Tuesday by the Washington-based Urban Land Institute (ULI)....
Massachusetts town wins water taste test
Southampton, Mass., has the best tasting water in the country, according to the Duncan, Okla.-based National Rural Water Association (NRWA). ...
EPA asks for input for ENERGY STAR Data Center Infrastructure Rating
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting input from data center operators nationwide on the creation of an Energy Star rating for data center infrastructure....
Oklahoma to plant 1,000-acre switchgrass field for ethanol production
The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (OBC) has acquired 1,000 acres to grow switchgrass that will be used for cellulosic ethanol production....
Mississippi passes transparency law
Mississippi residents soon will be able to access the state's accounting books online....
NASCIO issues brief on state IT employee recruitment and retention
States will have to be innovative to attract new information technology (IT) workers, according to a brief issued April 10 by the Lexington, Ky.-based National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)....
PERI awards scholarships for annual conference
The Fairfax, Va.-based Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 29 recipients...
State and local pension plans are well funded, report says
State and local government pension plans are as well funded as private plans, according to a report from the Washington-based Center for State and Local Government Excellence....
Harvard names 50 top innovations in government
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass., has announced the Top 50 Programs in its Innovations in American Government Awards competition....
IAFC seeks input on digital radio problem
The Fairfax, Va.-based International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) needs input from members who have experienced problems with unintelligible transmissions while using digital two-way portable radios....
2008 Congress of Cities to address change in federal leadership
A new president will be elected one week before the Washington-based National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2008 Congress of Cities is held, so the country's new chief executive will be the focus of the NLC event....
Washington launches "One Card" ID
Washington residents now need only one card to gain access to the city's libraries, recreational facilities and schools....
New York City Pension Funds invest in Northern Ireland
Four New York City Pension Funds plan to invest $150 million in the Emerald Infrastructure Development Fund for Northern Ireland....
County engineer testifies against Clean Water Restoration Act
The removal of one word from the federal Clean Water Act (CWA)proposed in new legislation, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA), could have "expensive, far-reaching and unintended consequences" for counties, Madison County, Ohio, Engineer David Brand told a congressional committee on Wednesday....
